The prized eggs of the sea turtles that massively arrive in the shores of Costa Rica to nest are often subject to poaching and trafficking. Thanks to efforts of Fuerza Publica officers assigned to the Matina canton of the Limon province, nearly 500 turtle eggs were rescued from the hands of three men traveling in a taxicab.

The eggs were contained in two sacks concealed in the rear compartment of the vehicle. The officers who found the turtle eggs were engaged in a checkpoint when they noticed the vehicle trying to avoid the traffic control roadblock. Upon searching the trunk of the taxicab, the officers noticed two bags, one containing 219 eggs and the other 229.

In an official press release by Fuerza Publica, the regional director of police operations in Limon explained that three men by the last names of Sequeira, Torres and Vargas were turned over to local prosecutors for processing. No further details were provided.

This is the second criminal incident involving sea turtle eggs this week, and the fifth case recently reported by The Costa Rica Star in which Fuerza Publica officers intercede to protect animals our country:

• On April 16^th, Fuerza Publica launched an investigation into the armed robbery of more than 1,500 Leatherback sea turtle eggs from a protected hatchery in Playa Moin, Limon. It is not clear whether the turtle eggs in the taxicab are connected to that earlier crime.
• On April 12^th, officers walking the beat in downtown San Jose arrested a man carrying ten iguanas in two bags, one of which had already died.
• On April 19^th, ten injured gamecocks were rescued by Fuerza Publica officers who received a tip from a confidential informant about a cockfighting operation in the Osa canton.
• Earlier today, Operation Jaguar –a coordinated effort to find poachers of feline wildlife- was launched in Cartago.

Source: Fuerza Publica